DE102017112156B4 - Method and device for detecting an object position relative to antenna arrays of an electronic communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

A method comprising:determining a first group of mutual coupling values for at least one pair of a plurality of antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110) of an electronic communication device (100), each mutual coupling value representing an efficiency of a mutual coupling transfer (634, 636, 638, 640) between an antenna element (604-611) of a first antenna array (104, 106, 108, 110) of a pair of antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110) and an antenna element (604-611) of a second antenna array (104, 106, 108, 110) of the pair of antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110);determining an object position relative to the multiple antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110) based on the first set of mutual coupling values and:operating an antenna element (604-611) of a first of the plurality of antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110) shaded based on the object position and an antenna element (604-611) of a second of the plurality of antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110) shaded based on the object position for mutual coupling transmission (634, 636, 638, 640);operating a first subarray of the first antenna array (104, 106, 108, 110) for communication transmission; anddeactivating a second subarray of the second antenna array (104, 106, 108, 110) shadowed based on the object position.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to detecting an object position and, more particularly, to determining mutual coupling values of at least one pair of antenna arrays of an electronic communication device in order to detect an object position relative to the antenna arrays.

BACKGROUND

Fifth generation cellular communications (“5G”) are dependent on millimeter wave frequencies (e.g. >24 GHz). To achieve antenna gain sufficient to maintain a reliable communication link with, for example, a base station, electronic communication devices will likely require a much larger number of antenna elements positioned in different areas of the electronic communication device for diversity and multiple input multiple output (MIMO) applications. One concern with communications at millimeter wave frequencies is that human tissues such as skin, bone, muscle, and fat are very lossy. For example, absorption by the hand can reduce the peak gain of a millimeter wave antenna array by 12 dB when the hand is about 5 millimeters from the antenna array. Accordingly, energy savings can be realized if antenna arrays blocked by lossy objects are not used for high power communications. In addition, some regulatory bodies require limits on the human body's exposure to radio frequency ("RF") energy.

Traditionally, various sensors such as capacitive sensors, touch sensors and infrared proximity sensors (top hat proximity sensors) have been used for hand detection to avoid antenna elements being blocked. However, the number of sensors required for accurate hand detection due to the larger number of antenna elements required for communication at millimeter wave frequencies would not be practical from the point of view of control, handling, power consumption and cost.

The US 2014 / 0 128 032 A1 discloses an electronic mobile device with a plurality of antennas and a proximity sensor for detecting an environment of the mobile device, wherein the antennas are adjusted depending on the detected environment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• 1 zeigt ein elektronisches Kommunikationsgerät gemäß einigen Ausführungsformen;
• 2 zeigt ein Blockdiagramm eines elektronischen Kommunikationsgeräts mit Komponenten, die gemäß einigen Ausführungsformen konfiguriert sind;
• 3 zeigt ein logisches Flussdiagramm zur Darstellung eines Verfahrens zum Bestimmen einer Objektposition gemäß einigen Ausführungsformen;
• 4 zeigt ein logisches Flussdiagramm zur Darstellung eines Verfahrens zum Bestimmen von gegenseitigen Kopplungswerten gemäß einigen Ausführungsformen;
• 5 zeigt ein logisches Flussdiagramm zur Darstellung eines Verfahrens zum Bestimmen einer Objektposition gemäß einigen Ausführungsformen;
• 6 zeigt ein elektronisches Kommunikationsgerät mit Antennenarrays, die Antennenelemente enthalten, die bei der Bestimmung von gegenseitigen Kopplungswerten verwendet werden, gemäß einigen Ausführungsformen;
• 7 zeigt ein elektronisches Kommunikationsgerät mit Antennenarrays, die Antennenelemente enthalten, die bei der Bestimmung von gegenseitigen Kopplungswerten verwendet werden, gemäß einigen Ausführungsformen;
• 8 zeigt ein elektronisches Kommunikationsgerät mit Antennenarrays, die Antennenelemente enthalten, die bei der Bestimmung von gegenseitigen Kopplungswerten verwendet werden, gemäß einigen Ausführungsformen;
• 9 zeigt ein elektronisches Kommunikationsgerät mit Antennenarrays, die Antennenelemente enthalten, die bei der Bestimmung von gegenseitigen Kopplungswerten verwendet werden, gemäß einigen Ausführungsformen;
• 10 zeigt eine Konfiguration von Antennenelementen innerhalb Antennenarrays gemäß einigen Ausführungsformen;
• 11 zeigt eine Konfiguration von Antennenelementen innerhalb Antennenarrays gemäß einigen Ausführungsformen;
• 12 zeigt eine Konfiguration von Antennenelementen innerhalb Antennenarrays gemäß einigen Ausführungsformen;
• 13 zeigt eine Konfiguration von Antennenelementen innerhalb Antennenarrays gemäß einigen Ausführungsformen;
• 14 zeigt eine Konfiguration von Antennenelementen innerhalb Antennenarrays gemäß einigen Ausführungsformen;
• 15 zeigt eine Konfiguration von Antennenelementen innerhalb Antennenarrays gemäß einigen Ausführungsformen;
• 16 zeigt ein logisches Flussdiagramm zur Darstellung eines Verfahrens zum Bestimmen einer Objektposition gemäß einigen Ausführungsformen;
• 17 zeigt ein logisches Flussdiagramm zur Darstellung eines Verfahrens zum Bestimmen einer Objektposition gemäß einigen Ausführungsformen;
• 18 zeigt eine Konfiguration von Antennenarrays für ein elektronisches Kommunikationsgerät gemäß einigen Ausführungsformen;
• 19 zeigt eine Konfiguration von Antennenarrays für ein elektronisches Kommunikationsgerät gemäß einigen Ausführungsformen;
• 20 zeigt eine Konfiguration von Antennenelementen innerhalb von Antennenarrays gemäß einigen Ausführungsformen;
• 21 zeigt eine Konfiguration von Antennenelementen innerhalb von Antennenarrays gemäß einigen Ausführungsformen;
• 22 zeigt ein logisches Flussdiagramm zur Darstellung eines Verfahrens zum Bestimmen einer Objektposition gemäß einigen Ausführungsformen.
• 23 zeigt ein logisches Flussdiagramm zur Darstellung eines Verfahrens zum Bestimmen einer Objektposition gemäß einigen Ausführungsformen.

The accompanying drawing figures, in which identical or functionally equivalent elements are identified throughout with the same reference numerals, are part of the present description and show embodiments according to the appended claims.

• 1 shows an electronic communication device according to some embodiments;
• 2 shows a block diagram of an electronic communications device with components configured according to some embodiments;
• 3 shows a logic flow diagram illustrating a method for determining an object position according to some embodiments;
• 4 shows a logic flow diagram illustrating a method for determining mutual coupling values according to some embodiments;
• 5 shows a logic flow diagram illustrating a method for determining an object position according to some embodiments;
• 6 shows an electronic communications device with antenna arrays including antenna elements used in determining mutual coupling values, according to some embodiments;
• 7 shows an electronic communications device with antenna arrays including antenna elements used in determining mutual coupling values, according to some embodiments;
• 8th shows an electronic communications device with antenna arrays including antenna elements used in determining mutual coupling values, according to some embodiments;
• 9 shows an electronic communications device with antenna arrays including antenna elements used in determining mutual coupling values, according to some embodiments;
• 10 shows a configuration of antenna elements within antenna arrays according to some embodiments;
• 11 shows a configuration of antenna elements within antenna arrays according to some embodiments;
• 12 shows a configuration of antenna elements within antenna arrays according to some embodiments;
• 13 shows a configuration of antenna elements within antenna arrays according to some embodiments;
• 14 shows a configuration of antenna elements within antenna arrays according to some embodiments;
• 15 shows a configuration of antenna elements within antenna arrays according to some embodiments;
• 16 shows a logic flow diagram illustrating a method for determining an object position according to some embodiments;
• 17 shows a logic flow diagram illustrating a method for determining an object position according to some embodiments;
• 18 shows a configuration of antenna arrays for an electronic communications device, according to some embodiments;
• 19 shows a configuration of antenna arrays for an electronic communications device, according to some embodiments;
• 20 shows a configuration of antenna elements within antenna arrays according to some embodiments;
• 21 shows a configuration of antenna elements within antenna arrays according to some embodiments;
• 22 shows a logic flow diagram illustrating a method for determining an object position according to some embodiments.
• 23 shows a logic flow diagram illustrating a method for determining an object position according to some embodiments.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are shown simply and clearly and are not necessarily to scale. For example, some elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements in order to facilitate understanding of embodiments in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. Furthermore, neither the description nor the drawings necessarily require the order in which they are presented. Certain actions and/or steps may be described and illustrated in a particular order in which they occur. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that this particular order is not actually required.

Components of devices, apparatus and/or methods are identified in the drawings by conventional symbols where appropriate, but only those specific details are shown which are essential to understanding the embodiments according to the present teachings of the invention and in order not to overload the description with details which would be readily apparent to those skilled in the art on the basis of the present description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to the various embodiments described herein, the invention relates to an electronic communication device and methods for determining an object position relative to a plurality of antenna elements included in the electronic communication device. Determining an object position is based on determining mutual coupling values (“MCVs”) for pairs of antenna arrays. The proximity of an object to an antenna array generally relates to one or more MCVs for one or more pairs of antenna arrays. An object can be an object that interferes with or impairs transmissions. An MCV is a quantitative signal strength measure or, more precisely, indicates how much of a signal transmitted by a transmitting antenna element is received by a receiving antenna element. An MCV can thus indicate an effectiveness of a signal transmitted between antenna elements of a pair of antenna arrays, also referred to herein as transmission.

MCVs may be determined by using low power transmissions between antenna elements of antenna arrays to facilitate mutual coupling between the antenna elements. Such transmissions between intra-device antenna elements of an electronic communication device are referred to herein as "mutual coupling" transmissions. The term mutual coupling describes, for example, electromagnetic energy absorbed or received by an antenna element of an antenna array as a result of electromagnetic energy transmitted or transmitted by an antenna element of another antenna array. In one embodiment, low power transmissions include transmissions at power levels of -20 dBm and lower. According to one example, low power transmission is enabled by applying a short-range communication technique such as near-field communication (NFC). Alternatively, higher power transmissions may be used to determine some or all of the MCVs.

In a specific embodiment described herein, the MCVs are determined using low power transmissions. However, high power transmissions, e.g., with power levels of 0 dBm (1 mW) or higher, are used for "communication" transmissions. Communication transmissions are used to communicate information, e.g., data and/or control information, to external devices such as external electronic communication devices and base stations.

For the described embodiments, the MCVs that are determined are scattering parameters, referred to herein as S-parameters. S-parameters describe an input-output relationship between ports or terminals in an electrical system, where a port is where a voltage or current can be supplied. In particular, S-parameters represent power transferred between a pair of ports, e.g., a pair of antenna elements, and can be determined from power level measurements. For two ports, e.g., N and M, S _NM generally indicates power transferred from port M to port N. Accordingly, for ports 1 and 2, S ₁₂ indicates power transferred from port 2 to port 1, and S ₂₁ indicates power transferred from port 1 to port 2.

Although S-parameters are applicable at any frequency, they are used in the calculations described because signal power is more easily quantified than currents or voltages for electronic communication devices operating at RF. However, in other embodiments, other types of MCVs may be used, including, but not limited to, Y-parameters, Z-parameters, T-parameters, or ABCD parameters. Some of these may be converted to S-parameters.

1 shows an electronic communications device (or simply device) 100, which is illustrated as a portable smartphone, and which will be referred to in describing the included embodiments. Although a smartphone is illustrated, the device 100 may represent other types of portable devices, for example, a cell phone, a phablet, a tablet, a personal digital assistant, a mobile phone, a media player, a laptop, or any other type of portable device that can detect object position using MCVs in accordance with the described embodiments. The smartphone 100 has a display 102 and four antenna arrays 104, 106, 108, 110 located near the four corners of the smartphone 100. However, other embodiments of the smartphone 100 may have more or fewer antenna arrays in various spatial configurations. Furthermore, the antenna arrays 104, 106, 108, 110 may be located in the housing of the smartphone 100, may be embedded in it, or may be placed on it.

2 shows a block diagram of an electronic communication device 200 that is designed to determine an object position relative to a plurality of antenna arrays based on a group of one or more MCVs. In the described embodiments, a smartphone 100 is chosen as the device 200. The device 200 includes a processor 202, a plurality of antenna arrays 220, a plurality of switching elements 222, a memory 224, one or more transceiver components 226, input and output components 228, and a power supply 230. Hardware components 202, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, and 230 are operatively connected by internal communication connections 232 such as a communication bus.

For ease of illustration, a limited number of components 202, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232 are shown in the device 200. Other embodiments may include a greater or lesser number of components 202, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232 in the device 200. In addition, for the sake of clarity of description, other components required for a commercial implementation of the device 200 have been omitted from 2 omitted.

The processor 202 is generally configured with functions in accordance with the embodiments described herein with reference to the remaining figures. Such functions are provided by the other 2 shown hardware, including device components 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, and 230. As used in this description, the terms "configured,""designed,""operable," or "suitable" are intended to mean that said components are implemented by one or more hardware elements, such as one or more operatively connected processing cores, memory elements, and interfaces, which may or may not be programmed with software and/or firmware, as a means for implementing the desired functions of said components.

The processor 202 includes arithmetic logic and control circuitry for performing digital processing, in whole or in part, for the device 200 to determine an object position relative to the antenna arrays 220 based on a group of MCVs. In some cases, the processor 202 also determines how to configure the antenna arrays 220 based on the detected object position. In one embodiment, the processor 202 represents a primary microprocessor of the device 200, also referred to as a central processing unit (“CPU”). For example, the processor 202 may represent an application processor of the smartphone 100. In another embodiment, the processor 202 is an auxiliary processor separate from the CPU, where the auxiliary processor is dedicated to providing, in whole or in part, the processing capacity required for the components of the device 200 to perform at least some of their intended functions.

For example, the processor 202 may be configured to execute algorithms consistent with one or more of the methods described by the logic flow diagrams in the 3 , 4 , 5 , 16 , 17 , 22 and 23 and their associated description. In general, the processor 202 is operatively connected to a plurality of the antenna arrays 220 and determines a group of MCVs based on mutual coupling transfers between one or more pairs of the plurality of antenna arrays 220. Each MCV indicates the efficiency of a mutual coupling transfer between an antenna element of a first antenna array of a pair of antenna arrays and an antenna element of a second antenna array of the pair of antenna arrays. The processor also determines the object position relative to the plurality of antenna arrays 220 based on the group of MCVs.

In some cases, the processor 202 determines which antenna arrays and/or antenna elements are communicating using low power transmissions for mutual coupling within the device 100. In particular, based on the results of the mutual coupling and a resulting determination of which antenna arrays, antenna subarrays, and/or antenna elements are blocked or shadowed, the processor 202 may dynamically determine whether and which antenna arrays, antenna subarrays, and/or antenna elements are disabled (e.g., turned off) for the purpose of exchanging communication transmissions with an external device, are used for mutual coupling transmissions (receive only, transmit only, or both receive and transmit) between one or more pairs of internal antenna arrays; and/or are used for communication transmissions with one or more external devices.

Each antenna array of the multiple antenna arrays 220 has one or more “active” or “driven” antenna elements configured to transmit and/or receive electromagnetic energy, for example by being formed from a suitable metallic conductor material and connected to a transceiver. Electromagnetic energy is also referred to in the present specification as electromagnetic transmissions or simply transmissions. An active antenna element radiates and/or receives transmissions to communicate data and/or detect an object position using the MCVs in accordance with the teachings described. In other words, each antenna array 220 has one or more active antenna elements that exchange transmissions, such as coupling transmissions or communication transmissions, with another antenna array.

Some antenna elements may be used for both mutual coupling transmissions and communication transmissions. Some antenna elements may be dedicated exclusively to mutual coupling transmissions, that is, used only for these. Some antennas may be dedicated exclusively to data communications outside the electronic communication device. For example, for communications in the millimeter wave frequency range, for example, at least some of the antenna elements are patch antenna elements, also known as rectangular microstrip antenna elements.

The antenna elements of a particular antenna array may operate independently for high and/or low power transmissions, or may operate collectively, for example for MIMO or beamforming. In one example, all of the multiple antenna elements of an antenna array are operated simultaneously to transmit and/or receive transmissions. In another example, only some of the multiple antenna elements of an antenna array (referred to herein as an antenna subarray or simply a subarray) are operated simultaneously to transmit and/or receive transmissions. In yet another example, a single antenna element of an antenna array is operated to transmit and/or receive transmissions. Therefore, the phrase “operating an antenna array” or the equivalents of that phrase encompass all three examples mentioned.

In a particular embodiment, one or more antenna arrays 220 for communicating data, such as voice or video, operate in multiple Wi-Fi and/or Wireless Gigabit Alliance (WiGig) frequency bands, including, but not limited to, 2.4 GHz, 3.65 GHz, 4.9 GHz, 5 GHz, 5.9 GHz, and 60 GHz (e.g., for WiGig). An example of an advantage of the present teachings is that one or more antenna arrays 220 included in device 200 for high power transmissions may also be used for low power transmissions to determine MCVs for sensing an object's position. This reduces or eliminates the need for additional sensors, such as capacitive sensors, top hat sensors, and/or touch sensors, that may be needed to sense an object's position relative to device 200.

Those antenna arrays 220 having one or more antenna elements used and operated to transmit and/or receive transmissions using millimeter wave frequencies or frequency bands are referred to in the present description as millimeter wave antenna arrays. Antenna arrays 220 having one or more antenna elements used and operated to transmit and/or receive transmissions using centimeter wave frequencies or frequency bands are referred to in the present description as centimeter wave antenna arrays.

In another embodiment, at least some of the antenna arrays 220 are used to implement MIMO and for beam steering, e.g., beamforming, to shape and direct electromagnetic energy toward an external device. For example, at least some of the antenna arrays 220 are phased arrays. Accordingly, relative phases of the respective signals feeding the antenna elements are either fixed or dynamically adjusted such that the effective radiation pattern of the antenna array is enhanced in a desired direction and suppressed in undesired directions.

In further embodiments, one or more antenna arrays 220 are configured to radiate and receive electromagnetic energy for communicating data over 6 GHz sub-frequency bands for second generation ("2G"), third generation ("3G"), and/or fourth generation ("4G") technology, for example. 6 GHz sub-frequency bands include 700 MHz, 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1700 MHz to 2200 MHz, and 2300 MHz to 2700 MHz. Antenna arrays having one or more antenna elements used and operated to transmit and/or receive Transmissions over or using frequencies or frequency bands below 6 GHz (ie, sub-frequencies of 6 GHz) are referred to in this description as sub-6 GHz antenna arrays.

Furthermore, at least one antenna array of the multiple antenna arrays 220 may include one or more "passive" or "parasitic" antenna elements that are not electrically coupled to a transceiver. The parasitic antenna elements may be conveniently located to increase the mutual coupling sensitivity between a pair of active antenna elements, for example, without affecting communications with external electronic communication devices. A parasitic antenna element in one antenna array of a pair of antenna arrays may beneficially increase the receive sensitivity of an adjacent active element. A parasitic antenna element in another antenna array of the pair of antenna arrays may shape or design the mutual coupling transmission of an adjacent active antenna element. This allows mutual coupling transmissions to be transmitted at lower power and with better alignment to the receiving antenna element. For example, at least some of the parasitic antenna elements are patch/microstrip antenna elements.

The transceiver components 226 represent one or more transceivers, each having transmitter hardware (a transmitter section) and receiver hardware (a receiver section). The transmitter section provides signals to at least one of the antenna arrays 220 for broadcast or transmission to another antenna array inside or outside the device 200. The receiver section receives signals from at least one of the antenna arrays 220 captured from transmissions inside or outside the device 200 for further processing by the device 200. Alternatively, the transmitter and receiver are separate hardware elements. Moreover, in some embodiments, for example, if a particular antenna array is specifically dedicated to mutual coupling transmission, one or more antenna elements may be coupled to only one transmitter.

In one embodiment, the processor 202 controls the strength, duration, waveform, and/or modulation of the signals provided by the transceiver(s) 226, and controls the demodulation of the signals received by the transceiver(s) 226. Moreover, in one example, a transceiver 226 (or a transmitter or receiver component) is enabled when all of the components required to perform its functions are active or enabled, e.g., front-end circuitry, demodulation circuitry, switch position, power or voltage supply, processing capacity. Similarly, a transceiver 226 (or a transmitter or receiver component) is disabled when one or more components required to perform its functions are inactive or disabled.

The transceiver components 226 include, for example, one or more wireless local area network (WLAN) transceivers that enable the device 200 to access the Internet using standards such as Wi-Fi or WiGig. The WLAN transceivers enable the electronic device 200 to send and receive radio signals to and from similarly equipped devices using a wireless distribution technique such as spread spectrum or orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM). In some embodiments, the WLAN transceivers use an IEEE 802.11 (e.g., a, b, g, n, ac, or ad) standard (IEEE = Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering) to communicate with other devices in the 2.4 GHz, 3.65 GHz, 4.9 GHz, 5 GHz, 5.9 GHz, and 60 GHz frequency bands.

In other embodiments, the transceiver components 226 include one or more cellular transceivers to support communication transmissions. For example, the cellular transceiver enables the device 200 to participate in information exchange sessions, such as calls or message exchange sessions, with other electronic communication devices using one or more cellular networks. Cellular networks may utilize any wireless technology that enables, for example, broadband and Internet Protocol (IP) communications, including, but not limited to: 3G wireless technologies such as CDMA2000 and Universal Mobile Telecommunications System ("UMTS") networks; 4G technologies such as Long-Term Evolution (LTE) and WiMAX; or 5G technologies, without limitation.

The group of one or more switching elements or simply switches 222 operatively connects the multiple antenna arrays 220 to the transmitter-receiver components 226. In a particular embodiment, each antenna element of each antenna array 220 is connected by means of one of the switching elements 222 is coupled to a separate transceiver component 226. In a specific implementation, each antenna element has at least its own power amplifier and low noise amplifier coupled to it. In another embodiment, multiple antenna elements, antenna subarrays and/or antenna arrays are coupled to the same transceiver component 226 by means of one or more switching elements 222.

In one example, the switching elements 222 include a plurality of single-pole double-throw (SPDT) switches. In this embodiment, the common terminal is coupled to an antenna element of an antenna array 220, and the other two terminals are coupled to the transmitter portion and the receiver portion of a transceiver 226, respectively. Accordingly, an antenna element may be switched to "transmit mode" by a controller, e.g., processor 202, causing the common terminal of the switch to connect to the terminal of the switch coupled to the transmitter portion. The transmit mode may be designed for low power transmissions, high power transmissions, or both. Similarly, an antenna element may be switched to "receive mode" by a controller, causing the common terminal of the switch to connect to the terminal of the switch coupled to the receiver portion.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the antenna element may be deactivated or turned off by, for example, cutting off power to switch 222. Similarly, an antenna array 220 having multiple antenna elements may be deactivated by cutting off power to the switches associated with all antenna elements. Thus, deactivating an antenna array or a portion thereof, e.g., an antenna element or a subarray, in this embodiment means disabling transmissions for that antenna element or portion of the antenna array. In other embodiments, deactivating the antenna array or a portion thereof may mean disabling both transmission and reception for that antenna array or portion of the antenna array, depending on, for example, the particular type of switch used. This could, for example, involve setting a switch coupled to the antenna array or part of the antenna array to an off position.

The memory 224 provides storage of electronic data that the processor 202 uses in performing its functions. For example, the memory 224 stores MCVs determined for the mutual coupling transmissions between antenna elements of pairs of the antenna arrays 220. In some cases, the memory 224 stores reference coupling values. In one embodiment, the memory 224 is a random access memory ("RAM"). In other embodiments, the memory 224 is a volatile or non-volatile memory. In a particular embodiment, a portion of the memory 224 is removable. For example, the processor 202 may use the RAM to temporarily store data while using a micro secure digital card ("microSD") to store files associated with an MCV-based determination of an object position.

The input and output components 228 represent user interface components of the electronic communications device 200 and are configured to enable a person or persons to use, control, program, or otherwise interact with the device 200. Examples of user interface components include, but are not limited to, touch screens, mechanical or electronic controls, and/or wireless and wired peripherals such as keyboards, mice, and touch pads.

Power supply 230 is a power source that provides power to device components 202, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, and 232 as needed during normal operation. Power is supplied to meet the individual voltage and load requirements of the power-consuming device components 202, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, and 232. In some embodiments, power supply 230 is a wired power supply that supplies DC power from a countercurrent using a full-wave or half-wave rectifier. In other embodiments, power supply 230 is a battery that powers up and operates device 200. In a particular embodiment, power supply 230 is a rechargeable battery located within device 200. The rechargeable battery for device 200 is configured for temporary connection to another power source external to device 200 to restore charge to the rechargeable battery when the battery is depleted or not fully charged. In another embodiment, the battery is simply replaced when its charge is no longer sufficient.

In various embodiments, the smartphone 100 uses components 202, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, which in 2 to determine an object position in various ways using MCVs. The 3 and 5 A method for determining an object position relative to a plurality of antenna arrays by comparing at least one group of MCVs with one or more groups of reference coupling values. For example, comparing a group of MCVs with a group of reference coupling values is used to determine or ascertain a hand grip relative to the electronic communication device (or grasping the electronic device with the hand). The 16 and 17 show methods for determining an object position based on determining the difference between MCVs in a group of MCVs. For example, a plurality of difference values are determined, each of which indicates a difference calculation between a different pair of MCVs of a group of MCVs. The multiple difference values are used to determine an object position relative to the multiple antenna arrays. In addition, the 22 and 23 Method for determining an object position and also motion based on how MCVs change over time, which is determined by successive measurements.

The method in the respective embodiment comprises determining a group of MCVs for at least one pair of antenna arrays of a plurality of antenna arrays of an electronic communication device. The respective MCV indicates an efficiency of mutual coupling transmission between an antenna element of a first antenna array of a pair of antenna arrays and an antenna element of a second antenna array of the pair of antenna arrays. The method also comprises determining an object position relative to the plurality of antenna arrays based on the group of MCVs.

Furthermore, in the described embodiments, determining the group of MCVs includes determining a plurality of S-parameters indicating the transmitted power or the transmission value for mutual coupling transmissions between antenna elements of multiple pairs of the multiple antenna arrays. However, in other embodiments, different types of MCVs may be determined. In addition, the MCVs may be determined based on mutual coupling transmissions between antenna elements of pairs of antenna arrays having at least one millimeter wave antenna array. However, other suitable types of antenna arrays may also be used for exchanging mutual coupling transmissions from which the MCVs can be calculated.

In a particular embodiment, an electronic communications device such as the smartphone 100 may initiate at least some of the methods according to the present teachings when a user begins to interact with the device 100, for example with or through the touchscreen 102. The device 100 may then repeat the MCV measurements over time to track the movement of the user's body part, e.g., the user's hand, relative to the device 100 until the user ends the interaction with the device 100. In another embodiment, the electronic communications device 100 may initiate at least some of the methods according to the present teachings when an information exchange session is initiated with another device, for example, a voice call or a data retrieval. Similarly, the device 100 may then repeat the MCV measurements over time to track the movement of the user's body part, e.g., the user's hand, relative to the device 100 until the call or retrieval is terminated.

3 shows a logic flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a method 300 for determining an object position based on measured or calculated MCVs. An electronic communications device, such as a smartphone 100, determines 302 a group of MCVs for at least one pair of a plurality of antenna arrays, such as antenna arrays 104, 106, 108, and 110. As previously stated, each MCV indicates the efficiency of mutual coupling transmission between antenna elements of a pair of antenna arrays. For example, an MCV is or represents a signal reception level for mutual coupling transmission between a pair of antenna elements, one from each antenna array of the pair of antenna arrays. The signal reception level may be, for example: a signal reception, e.g., a signal strength measurement at a receiving antenna element; a ratio of the signal reception level at the receiving antenna element to a signal transmission level at a transmitting antenna element; a difference between the signal reception level at the receiving antenna element and the signal transmission level at the transmitting antenna element, etc.

In one particular example, the measured MCVs are S-parameters. For example, at a particular time, t ₁ , an antenna element of antenna array 106 transmits a mutual coupling transmission that is received by an antenna element of antenna array 104. Processor 202 controls receiver circuitry coupled to the receive antenna element to determine the receive level, from which processor 202 determines an S-parameter S _t1 (S _mn at t1) of -32 dB for the pair of antenna arrays 102, 104. In one embodiment, the S-parameter is a power level measurement for the mutual coupling transmission detected at the receive antenna element. Additional S-parameters may be determined in a similar manner for different pairs of antenna arrays 104, 106, 108, 110 as part of a group of S-parameters. If several S-parameters are determined during a given time frame, the group is referred to as an S-matrix in this description.

The smartphone 100, for example, using the processor 202, compares 304 the measured group of MCVs to at least one group of one or more coupling values and determines 306 an object position relative to the plural antenna arrays, e.g., 104, 106, 108, 110, based on these comparisons. A reference coupling value is any suitable calculated and stored value that relates to one or more previously measured MCVs for a pair of antenna arrays and enables the device 100 to determine the position of an object relative to the pair of antenna arrays. MCVs may be used to detect an object position because a present lossy object interferes with mutual coupling transmission between antenna elements of a pair of antenna arrays. This interference affects, e.g., reduces, the MCV for that pair of antenna arrays relative to an MCV measurement in "free space," which is the MCV measurement for the antenna array pair with no lossy object present. Lossy objects may include, but are not limited to, the hand or hands of a user grasping or holding the smartphone 100. In some cases, a lossy object may include, but are not limited to, the head of a user when the user holds the smartphone 100 to his or her ear.

In one embodiment, a reference coupling value is determined based on two previously measured MCVs for a pair of antenna arrays. In a particular embodiment, the smartphone 100 determines and stores a first MCV for the pair of antenna arrays for a mutual coupling transmission transmitted in free space and a second MCV for the pair of antenna arrays for a mutual coupling transmission transmitted when a nearby lossy object interferes with the mutual coupling transmission. The device 100 may use one of the MCVs as a reference coupling value MCV _ref and determine a threshold value MCV _th from or using the MCV. For example, the MCV _th is based on the difference between the first and second MCVs. Both the MCV _ref and the MCV _th are used to determine an object position relative to the pair of antenna arrays.

For example, at an earlier time, such as during product testing or user training, device 100 determines and stores a first S-parameter, Smn _FS = -32 dB, for the pair of antenna arrays 104, 106 for a mutual coupling transmission transmitted in free space. Device 100 also determines and stores a second S-parameter, S _mnObj = -42 dB, for the pair of antenna arrays 102, 104 for a mutual coupling transmission transmitted when a nearby lossy object, e.g., the user's hand or part thereof, causes maximum interference with the mutual coupling transmission and thereby maximum attenuation of the mutual coupling transmission.

In one implementation, the device 100 is programmed to set a reference coupling value S _ref = S _mnFS = -32 dB; and a predefined threshold value S _th = 10 dB determined by taking the difference between the free space value, S _mnFS (-32 dB), and a known blocking value, S _mnObj (-42 dB). When the device is in use, a higher difference value (S _{ref -} measured S _mn ) triggers a decision based on S _th at block 306. During user training, the device 100 may further set S _th to a user-specific threshold value, e.g., 8 dB, taking into account, for example, the size and density of the user's hand, etc.

In this implementation, to determine the position of a user's hand relative to the pair of antenna arrays 104, 106 at time t ₁ , the processor 202 compares the S-parameter at time t ₁ , S _t1 , to the reference coupling value S _ref . If S _t1 < S _ref by S _th (which in this example situation is 8 dB) or greater, the processor 202 determines 306 that the object (e.g., the user's hand) is sufficiently close to block or shadow the pair of antenna arrays 104, 106. Otherwise, the processor determines 306 that the pair of antenna arrays 104, 106 is unblocked, unshadowed, or clear. In this particular example, the processor 202 determines 306 that the pair of antenna arrays 104, 106 is unshadowed since: S _t1 =S _ref . Thus, whether an antenna array or a portion thereof is shadowed (blocked) or unshadowed (unblocked or clear) by a nearby lossy object depends on the relevant comparison 304 for a currently measured MCV, which depends at least in part on the threshold and/or an optimization technique applied during the comparison 304.

In another implementation, the device 100 is programmed to set an S _ref = S ₂ = -42 dB. The device 100 in turn sets S _th = 8 dB. In this implementation situation, if S _t1 < S _ref by S _th or greater, the processor 202 determines 306 that the pair of antenna arrays 104, 106 is unshadowed. Otherwise, the processor determines 306 that the pair of antenna arrays 104, 106 is unshadowed. In this particular example, the processor 202 determines 306 that the pair of antenna arrays 104, 106 is unshadowed because S _t1 exceeds S _ref by 10 dB, which is more than S _th .

The above example of the implementation of blocks 304 and 306 of the method 300 has been simplified to better understand the principles by which the device 100 can perform an MCV comparison 304 and determine an object position 306 as a result. As demonstrated, by performing the comparison 304 on a single MCV determined at a given time for a pair of antenna arrays, the device 100 can determine whether the pair of antenna arrays is blocked as a whole. In other words, this limited comparison only allows the device 100 to determine that the object is near or somewhere on or between the pair of antenna arrays 104, 106.

For a somewhat more precise determination 306 of which antenna array or arrays of the pair or which portion of one or both antenna arrays of the pair is or are specifically blocked, the device 100 determines 302 MCVs for the same antenna array pair using different pairs of antenna elements. The device 100 then uses this group of multiple MCVs to perform the comparison 304 to determine the object position relative to the multiple antenna arrays 104, 106, 108, 110 with greater accuracy 306.

Returning momentarily to the previous example, the device 100 determines 302 at least two other or additional MCVs. Specifically, at time t ₁ , the device 100 determines 302 an S-parameter S _t1-a = -32 dB based on a mutual coupling transfer from a transmitting antenna element in the antenna array 110 to a receiving antenna element in the antenna array 106. The device 100 also determines 302 an S-parameter S _t1-b = -42 dB based on a mutual coupling transfer from a transmitting antenna element in the antenna array 104 to a receiving antenna element in the antenna array 108 at time t _1. By using the same reference coupling value S _ref and threshold value S _{th ,} the device 100 can accurately determine that the position of the user's hand is closer to the antenna array 104 than to the antenna array 106. Additional MCV determinations at 302 can achieve even greater accuracy in determining 306 an object position.

In another embodiment, device 100 may determine and store multiple groups of reference coupling values and thresholds, each group representing a different handgrip profile for a particular handgrip. Each handgrip profile in device 100 in turn corresponds to and is associated with a particular one or more of the antenna arrays or antenna array regions that are shadowed and other antenna arrays or antenna array regions that are not shadowed. A handgrip is a particular way in which a user holds or grips a device. For example, the user may grip the device with the right hand (right-handed grip), with the left hand (left-handed grip), or with both hands (landscape).

Accordingly, the device 100 determines 302 a group of multiple MCVs while the user is holding the device 100 at a given time and compares 304 the group of MCVs with the multiple handgrip profiles stored in the device 100. In one embodiment, the device 100 uses a mathematical optimization approach, for example, the least mean squares algorithm, to determine 304 which group of measured MCVs most closely matches the stored handgrip profile. Alternative optimization techniques such as trapezoidal rule or Simpson rule approximation may be applied to compare the group of measured MCVs with a group of stored reference coupling values such as a group of handle profiles.

If a match is found, the device 100 determines 306 the antenna array(s) or antenna array regions that are blocked, for example according to the handgrip profile. The indication of the blocked antenna array(s) or regions thereof represents the position of the user's hand relative to the device 100 and in particular relative to the multiple antenna arrays of the device 100. If no match is found, the device 100 determines 306 that no antenna arrays are blocked or the user is not holding the device 100.

The device 100 may then (when the method 300 is repeated during a call or during operation of a context-aware application) configure or reconfigure 308 the multiple antenna arrays 104, 106, 108, 110 based on the object position, e.g., the position of the hand. One or more operations may be involved in this configuration. For example, the device 100 adjusts a communication transmission from one or more antenna arrays of the multiple antenna arrays 104, 106, 108, 110 based on the object position. This may include changing an orientation of an antenna beam from an antenna array and/or a transmit power level of the communication transmission. The change may be implemented by one or more of the following measures: using fewer or different antenna elements of the antenna array to direct the antenna beam from the antenna array; increasing the transmission power of fewer antenna elements in order to extend the range of the antenna beam; reducing the transmission power if it is determined that other antenna elements of the antenna array are unobstructed because the user has moved his hand; stopping the communication transmission from a blocked antenna array or antenna array area; continuing the communication transmission with an unobstructed antenna array or antenna array area, etc.

Further, configuring 308 the antenna arrays based on the object position may include, but are not limited to, one or various combinations of the following: turning off or disabling some antenna arrays or antenna array regions (either individual antenna elements or antenna subarrays) that are blocked; using some of the blocked antenna elements to send mutual coupling transmissions to cause device 100 to repeat the method 300 for tracking the user's hand movements, for example, to optimize beamforming and MIMO applications and maximize battery life; or using unblocked antenna arrays or regions thereof for communication transmissions. Deactivating antenna elements may include switching the antenna elements to a receive mode or turning them off using switches connected to the antenna elements. Using antenna elements for transmissions may include switching the antenna elements to a transmission mode using switches connected to the antenna elements.

4 shows a logic flow diagram illustrating a method 400 that may be performed by an electronic communication device 100, such as a smartphone 100, to configure antenna elements to transmit mutual coupling transmissions for determining or detecting MVCs. The method 400 is described with reference to the 6 , 7 , 8th and 9 , which show the smartphone determining four MCVs S ₁₂ , S ₃₄ , S ₅₆ and S ₇₈ based on mutual coupling transmissions between four antenna elements of four different pairs of antenna arrays 104, 106, 108, 110. However, the method 400 can also be performed for determining MCVs based on mutual coupling transmissions between: antenna elements of additional pairs of antenna arrays 104, 106, 108, 110; different antenna elements of the same pair of antenna arrays; different transmission directions between the same antenna elements or different antenna elements; etc.

In addition, in one embodiment, multiple MCVs (such as those shown in the 6 , 7 , 8th and 9 specified MCVs) are determined based on successive mutual coupling transmissions that occur at different times between the different pairs of antenna elements. For example, the transmit antenna element of a first pair of antenna elements transmits a mutual coupling transmission for one millisecond. Thereafter, the transmit antenna element of a second pair of antenna elements transmits a mutual coupling transmission for one millisecond. The successive mutual coupling transmissions occur until all MCVs for the group are determined. In another embodiment, the multiple MCVs may be determined based on on simultaneous mutual coupling transmissions that occur simultaneously or substantially simultaneously between the different pairs of antenna elements. In this embodiment, each simultaneous mutual coupling transmission may occur at a different transmit frequency to minimize crosstalk that could distort the MCV determinations and hence the determination of object position.

According to the method 400, the smartphone 100 configures 402 an antenna element in a first antenna array to transmit and configures 402 an antenna element in a second antenna array to receive. The smartphone transmits 404 a first mutual coupling transmission between the antenna elements of the first and second antenna arrays and determines 406 a first mutual coupling value based on the first mutual coupling transmission. The smartphone 100 configures 408 an antenna element in the first antenna array to receive and configures 408 an antenna element in a third antenna array to transmit. The smartphone transmits 410 a second mutual coupling transmission between the antenna elements of the first and third antenna arrays and determines 412 a second mutual coupling value based on the second mutual coupling transmission. Similarly, the smartphone 100 determines 414 additional mutual coupling values for different pairs of antenna arrays to determine a complete set of mutual coupling values.

In 6 , a battery 630 is shown as part of a smartphone 100, which serves as a power supply 230, and the four antenna arrays 104, 106, 108 and 110 are shown, which are respectively referred to as ARRAY_A, ARRAY_B, ARRAY_C and ARRAY_D. Each antenna array has four active antenna elements and two parasitic antenna elements. For example, antenna array 104 includes active antenna elements A2 (604) and A3 (605) and parasitic antenna elements 642 and 644. Antenna array 106 includes active antenna elements B1 (606) and B8 (607) and parasitic antenna elements 646 and 648. Antenna array 108 includes active antenna elements C4 (608) and C5 (609) and parasitic antenna elements 654 and 656. Antenna array 110 includes active antenna arrays D6 (611) and D7 (610) and parasitic antenna arrays 650 and 652.

In the illustrated embodiment, each active antenna element is coupled to a separate transceiver having transmitter and receiver hardware via a separate SPDT switch. For example, antenna element A2 (604) is coupled to a transceiver via switch 612. Antenna element B1 (606) is coupled to a transceiver via switch 614. Antenna element A3 (605) is coupled to a transceiver via switch 712. Antenna element C4 (608) is coupled to a transceiver via switch 716. Antenna element C5 (609) is coupled to a transceiver via switch 816. Antenna element D6 (611) is coupled to a transceiver via switch 818. The antenna element B8 (607) is coupled to a transmitter-receiver by means of a switch 914. The antenna element D7 (610) is coupled to a transmitter-receiver by means of a switch 918.

To determine the first MCV using the method 400, the smartphone 100 configures 402 the antenna element 604 of a first antenna array 104 to transmit by connecting the antenna element 604 to the transmitter hardware using the switch 612, and configures 402 the antenna element 606 of a second antenna array 106 to receive by connecting the antenna element 606 to the receiver hardware using the switch 614. In a particular embodiment, when determining the MCVs, all of the antenna elements that are not currently needed for transmitting are connected to the respective receiver hardware. For illustration purposes, all of the antenna elements of the antenna array 108 are connected to receiver hardware using respective switches (collectively shown as switch 616). Furthermore, all antenna elements of antenna array 110 are connected to receiver hardware through respective switches (collectively shown as switch 618). Although not shown, the antenna elements of antenna arrays 104 and 106 that are not needed for mutual coupling transmissions may also be connected to the respective receiver hardware.

The antenna element 604 sends, 404, a first mutual coupling transmission 634 to the antenna element 606, of which the S-parameter S ₁₂ is determined as the first MCV, 406. The parasitic antenna element 642 adjacent to the transmit antenna element 604 and the parasitic antenna element 646 adjacent to the receive antenna element 606 enable the transmission of the mutually coupled transmission 634. side coupling transmission 634 with a lower transmission power than that for communication transmissions.

To determine the second MCV using the method 400, the smartphone 100 configures 408 the antenna element 605 of the first antenna array 104 to receive by connecting the antenna element 605 to the receiver hardware using the switch 712, and configures 408 the antenna element 608 of a third antenna array 108 to transmit by connecting the antenna element 608 to the transmitter hardware using the switch 716. All antenna elements of the antenna array 106 are connected to receiver hardware using the respective switches (collectively shown as switch 714). Furthermore, all antenna elements of the antenna array 110 are connected to receiver hardware using the respective switches (collectively shown as switch 618). Although not shown, the antenna elements of antenna arrays 104 and 106 that are not needed for mutual coupling transmissions may also be connected to the respective receiver hardware.

The antenna element 608 transmits, 410, a second mutual coupling transmission 636 to the antenna element 605, of which the S-parameter S ₃₄ is determined as the second MCV, 412. The parasitic antenna element 654 adjacent to the transmit antenna element 608 and the parasitic antenna element 644 adjacent to the receive antenna element 605 enable the mutual coupling transmission 636 to be transmitted at a lower transmit power than that for communication transmissions.

To determine 414 a third MCV using method 400, smartphone 100 configures antenna element 611 of fourth antenna array 110 to transmit by connecting antenna element 611 to transmitter hardware using switch 818, and configures antenna element 609 of third antenna array 108 to receive by connecting antenna element 609 to receiver hardware using switch 816. All antenna elements of antenna array 104 are connected to receiver hardware through respective switches (collectively shown as switch 812). Furthermore, all antenna elements of antenna array 106 are connected to receiver hardware through respective switches (collectively shown as switch 714). Although not shown, the antenna elements of antenna arrays 108 and 110 that are not used for mutual coupling transmissions may also be connected to the respective receiver hardware.

The antenna element 611 transmits a second mutual coupling transmission 638 to the antenna element 609, of which the S-parameter S ₅₆ is determined as the third MCV. The parasitic antenna element 652 adjacent to the transmit antenna element 611 and the parasitic antenna element 656 adjacent to the receive antenna element 609 enable the mutual coupling transmission 638 to be transmitted at a lower transmission power than that for communication transmissions.

To determine 414 a fourth MCV using method 400, smartphone 100 configures antenna element 607 of second antenna array 106 to transmit by connecting antenna element 607 to transmitter hardware using switch 914, and configures antenna element 610 of fourth antenna array 110 to receive by connecting antenna element 610 to receiver hardware using switch 918. All antenna elements of antenna array 108 are connected to receiver hardware through respective switches (collectively shown as switch 616). Furthermore, all antenna elements of antenna array 104 are connected to receiver hardware through respective switches (collectively shown as switch 812). Although not shown, the antenna elements of antenna arrays 106 and 110 that are not used for mutual coupling transmissions may also be connected to the respective receiver hardware.

The antenna element 607 transmits a fourth mutual coupling transmission 640 to the antenna element 610, of which the S-parameter S ₇₈ is determined as the fourth MCV. The parasitic antenna element 648 adjacent to the transmit antenna element 607 and the parasitic antenna element 650 adjacent to the receive antenna element 610 enable the mutual coupling transmission 640 to be transmitted at a lower transmit power than that for communication transmissions.

5 shows a logic flow diagram illustrating a method 500 that can be performed by the smartphone 100 to determine an object position based on measured MCVs. The method 500 is also described with reference to the 6 , 7 , 8th and 9 By applying the method 500, the smartphone 100 sends 502 consecutive mutual coupling transmissions transmissions 634, 636, 638, 640 from the respective antenna elements 2, 4, 6 and 8, for example. The smartphone 100 measures, 504, the power level of the mutual coupling transmissions 634, 636, 638 and 640 received at the antenna elements 1, 3, 5 and 7, respectively, of which the smartphone 100 determines and stores, 506, the mutual coupling values S ₁₂ , S ₃₄ , S ₅₆ and S ₇₈ .

The smartphone 100 compares 508 S ₁₂ , S ₃₄ , S ₅₆ , and S ₇₈ to stored groups of reference values and corresponding thresholds, each group representing a different handgrip profile. If the smartphone 100 fails to match the measured S-parameters S ₁₂ , S ₃₄ , S ₅₆ , and S ₇₈ to a handgrip profile at 510, the smartphone 100 may determine another group of S-parameters as represented by the method 500 by returning to block 502. Alternatively, the smartphone 100 terminates the method 500. However, if the smartphone 100 determines 510 that the measured S-parameters S ₁₂ , S ₃₄ , S ₅₆ , and S ₇₈ match a particular handgrip profile, the smartphone 100 identifies 512 the antenna element that is shadowed by the hand position that correlates with the matching handgrip profile.

For example, the S-parameters S ₃₄ , S ₅₆ , and S ₇₈ determined at 506 indicate attenuated mutual coupling transmissions 636, 638, and 640 received at antenna elements 3, 5, and 7, respectively. The smartphone 100 determines 510 that the measured set of S-parameters matches the handgrip profile where the user holds the device 100 in one hand and operates it with the thumb. This handgrip profile corresponds to the antenna arrays 108 and 110, which are shadowed by the user's palm, for example. The smartphone 100 configures the antenna elements of its antenna arrays based on this hand position.

In the embodiment of the smartphone 100 with the millimeter wave antenna arrays, the smartphone 100 may perform one of the following operations or a combination of operations based on the hand position: operating, 514, a shaded antenna element of a first millimeter wave antenna array and a shaded antenna element of a second millimeter wave antenna array for mutual coupling transmission; operating, 514, an unshaded first subarray of the first millimeter wave antenna array for communication transmissions; deactivating, 514, a shaded second subarray of the second millimeter wave antenna array. The smartphone 100 may further deactivate, 516, one or more shaded sub-6 GHz antenna elements based on the hand position.

For example, if the smartphone 100 is currently in a call with another device, the smartphone 100 operates 514 antenna elements of one or both of the unshadowed antenna arrays 104 and 106 for communication transmissions to the other device (e.g., to a base station). Which of the antenna arrays 104 and/or 106 and which of the antenna element components of these arrays are used for beamforming, for example, may depend on the location of the other device and the distance relative to the smartphone 100. The smartphone 100 may also continue to use antenna elements 2 and 3 of the antenna array 104 and antenna elements 1 and 8 of the antenna array 106 for mutual coupling transmissions to periodically determine MCVs during the call if these antenna elements are not currently being used for communication transmissions. Alternatively, the smartphone 100 uses the antenna elements 1, 2, 3 and 8 for mutual coupling transmissions and uses subarrays of the remaining antenna elements of the antenna arrays 104 and 106 for the communication transmissions.

The smartphone 100 deactivates, 514, antenna elements of the shadowed antenna arrays 108 and 110 or operates, 514, the antenna elements of the shadowed antenna arrays for mutual coupling transmissions to continue monitoring the MCVs and thereby the hand position during the call. For example, the smartphone 100 operates antenna elements 4 and 5 of the antenna array 108 and antenna elements 6 and 7 of the antenna array 110 for mutual coupling transmissions. The smartphone 100 deactivates the other two active antenna elements of each of the antenna arrays 108 and 110, for example, by connecting the SPDT switch for those antenna elements to the receiver hardware and stopping the DC power supply to the switches.

Furthermore, the smartphone 100 may be configured or programmed to find the physical location of all antenna arrays in the smartphone 100. Accordingly, the smartphone 100 may deactivate 516 those sub-6GHz antenna elements as shadowed that are adjacent to the shadowed antenna arrays 108 and 110. In another embodiment, the smartphone 100 includes an application processor 518, for example, via the processor 202, that detects the hand position tion, that one or more context-sensitive applications should be opened, closed, or run. A "context-sensitive" application, also referred to in this description as a "context-dependent" application, is an application that reacts or responds based on the way a user interacts with a device, for example by the user holding the device, touching the device, and/or gesturing over the device. Examples include gesture detection, volume control, operating or focusing a camera, orienting the screen, etc.

For example, if the smartphone 100 determines that the user is holding the smartphone 100 with one hand, 518 the smartphone 100 reports this to an application processor in the smartphone 100, which activates a camera in anticipation of a selfie the user wants to take. For example, if the smartphone 100 determines that the user is holding the smartphone with both hands, the smartphone 100 may report this to the application processor, which may change a screen mode from portrait to landscape in anticipation of a video the user wants to play. Further, if the smartphone 100 determines that the user has picked up the phone, based on a determination 512 that one or more antenna arrays are blocked, the smartphone 100 may report this to the application processor, which may light up the screen and provide notification of text messages, emails, time, weather, etc.

The 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 and 15 show various embodiments for the arrangement of antenna elements within the antenna arrays of an electronic communication device such as the smartphone 100. 10 For example, FIG. 1 shows smartphone 100 having an antenna array 1006 with two parasitic elements 1046 and 1048 and eight active antenna elements. Smartphone 100 has three additional antenna arrays whose physical arrangement is similar to that of antenna array 1006, such that a similarly arranged antenna array is positioned at each of the four corners of smartphone 100.

11 shows the smartphone 100 having an antenna array 1106 with two parasitic antenna elements 1146 and 1148 and sixteen active antenna elements. The smartphone 100 has three additional antenna elements whose physical arrangement is similar to that of the antenna array 1106, such that a similarly arranged antenna array is positioned at each of the four corners of the smartphone 100.

12 shows the smartphone 100 having an antenna array 1206 with two parasitic antenna elements 1246 and 1248 and sixteen active antenna elements. The smartphone 100 has three additional antenna elements whose physical arrangement is similar to that of the antenna array 1206, such that a similarly arranged antenna array is positioned at each of the four corners of the smartphone 100. However, the antenna elements in 12 compared to the antenna elements in 11 rotated 45 degrees. Rotating the antenna elements 45 degrees creates additional space between antenna elements, thereby increasing the physical area occupied by the antenna arrays on the device 100. The increased area occupied by the antenna arrays reduces the likelihood that all of the antenna elements of a particular array will be blocked by the hand of a user near the antenna array.

13 shows the smartphone 100 having an antenna array 1306 with three parasitic antenna elements 1346, 1348 and 1358 and eight active antenna elements. The smartphone 100 has three additional antenna elements whose physical arrangement is similar to that of the antenna array 1306, such that a similarly arranged antenna array is positioned at each of the four corners of the smartphone 100.

14 shows the smartphone 100 having an antenna array 1406 with three parasitic antenna elements 1446, 1448, and 1458 and sixteen active antenna elements. The smartphone 100 has three additional antenna elements whose physical arrangement is similar to that of the antenna array 1406, such that a similarly arranged antenna array is positioned at each of the four corners of the smartphone 100.

15 shows the smartphone 100 having an antenna array 1506 with three parasitic antenna elements 1546, 1548 and 1558 and sixteen active antenna elements. The smartphone 100 has three further antenna elements whose physical arrangement is similar to that of the antenna array 1506, such that a similarly arranged antenna array is positioned at each of the four corners of the smartphone 100. However, the antenna elements in 15 compared to the antenna elements in 14 rotated 45 degrees.

The additional active and parasitic antenna elements in the antenna array configurations of the 10 up to and including 15 allow a greater degree of flexibility in determining MCVs; in determining the object position from the MCVs and which antenna elements are shadowed by the object position and which are not shadowed; and in determining how the antenna elements of the multiple antenna arrays must be configured with respect to the object position. The antenna array configuration, which is described for example in the 6 through 9, based on the arrangement of the parasitic antenna elements, enabled the determination of only four MCVs using low-power transmissions. Accordingly, the accuracy with which the object position could be determined was related to the size of an antenna array as a whole. The additional active and parasitic antenna elements in the antenna array configuration shown in the 10 However, the methods shown in Figures 1 to 15 enable the determination of at least six MCVs between the antenna elements of six different pairs of antenna arrays. This in turn enables the smartphone 100 to accurately determine an object position relative to subarrays of at least four antenna elements.

For example, regarding the antenna array configurations used in the 10 through 12, the smartphone 100 may determine whether the upper four or lower four groups of antenna elements of each of the four antenna arrays are blocked or unblocked based on six MCV calculations of low-power mutual coupling transmissions. As for the antenna array configurations shown in the 13 through 15, the smartphone 100 can determine whether the upper four left, upper four right, lower four left, or lower four right groups of antenna elements of each of the four antenna arrays are blocked or unblocked based on eight MCV calculations of low-power mutual coupling transmissions. Various antenna array configurations with a different number of active and parasitic antenna elements allow for a more or less accurate determination of an object position relative to individual antenna elements or antenna subarrays.

16 shows a logic flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a method 1600 for determining an object position based on measured or calculated MCVs. An electronic communication device such as the smartphone 100 determines 1602 a group of MCVs, eg, an S-matrix, for at least one pair of a plurality of antenna arrays of the smartphone 100.

In this embodiment, the smartphone 100 determines, 1604, a set of difference values between pairs of MCVs within the same set of MCVs for determining an object position, where the smartphone 100 compares each difference value to a threshold MCV _th , 1606. If the smartphone 100 determines, 1606, that none of the difference values exceed the threshold MCV _th , the smartphone 100 determines that none of the antenna arrays are blocked or that a user is not holding the smartphone 100. The smartphone 100 then waits, 1608, for a programmed time interval and determines, 1602, another set of MCVs from which to detect the object position.

However, if the smartphone 100 determines 1606 that at least some of the difference values exceed the MCV _th threshold, the smartphone 100 may determine 1610 which antenna arrays are blocked based on which MCVs exceed the MCV _th threshold. The blocked antenna arrays correlate the object position relative to the multiple antenna arrays of the smartphone 100. Based on the object position, the smartphone may then configure its antenna arrays 1612, such as described with reference to block 308 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 illustrated method 300 is generally described.

17 shows an example of the way in which an electronic communication device can carry out the method 1600. 17 a logic flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a method 1700 for determining an object position based on multiple difference values calculated for MCVs within the same group of MCVs. In a specific embodiment, the method 1700 is described as being performed by a smartphone 100 having an antenna array configuration as in 18 or 19 has.

In the 18 and 19 the smartphone 100 is shown with five antenna arrays 1804, 1806, 1808, 1810 and 1874. Four of the antenna arrays, e.g. 1804, 1806, 1808 and 1810 are each located symmetrically near the four corners of the smartphone 100. In one embodiment, the antenna arrays 1804, 1806, 1808 and 1810 each have four active antenna elements and are each used for both communication transmissions and mutual coupling transmissions. Although not shown, the antenna arrays 1804, 1806, 1808, 1810 may also include one or more parasitic antenna elements, to enable low-power mutual coupling transmissions, as described earlier.

However, the antenna array 1874 is a "hub" antenna that is specifically designed for exchanging, e.g., sending or receiving, mutual coupling transmissions with the other antenna arrays 1804, 1806, 1808, and 1810 from which the smartphone 100 determines the MCVs. The antenna array 1874 is arranged relative to the antenna arrays 1804, 1806, 1808, 1810 of the smartphone 100 in the 18 shown embodiment symmetrically and relative to the antenna arrays 1804, 1806, 1808, 1810 of the smartphone 100 in the 19 shown embodiment is positioned asymmetrically.

In one embodiment, antenna array 1874 has a single antenna element 1 coupled to a transmitter, e.g., via an SPDT switch (not shown). Thus, antenna array 1874 is configured to transmit mutual coupling transmissions from transmit antenna element 1 to receive antenna elements, e.g., 1868 (2), 1862 (3), 1860 (4), and 1858 (5), of antenna arrays 1804, 1808, 1810, 1806, respectively. In an alternative embodiment, the antenna element is coupled to a receiver and is thereby configured to receive mutual coupling transmissions from antenna elements 2, 3, 4, and 5.

Returning to the method 1700, the smartphone 100 transmits 1702 a mutual coupling transmission from the hub antenna element 1 that is received at the antenna elements 2, 3, 4 and 5. The mutual coupling transmission may be a single transmission transmitted during a given period of time at an appropriate power level. However, for the sake of clarity, 18 the mutual coupling transmission between antenna elements 1 and 2 is marked with 1872, between elements 1 and 3 with 1870, between elements 1 and 4 with 1868 and between elements 1 and 5 with 1866. In 19 the mutual coupling transmission between antenna elements 1 and 2 is marked with 1972, between antenna elements 1 and 3 with 1970, between antenna elements 1 and 4 with 1968 and between antenna elements 1 and 5 with 1966.

The smartphone 100 measures 1704 and stores the power level of the mutual coupling transmissions received at the antenna elements 2, 3, 4 and 5, whose S-parameters S ₂₁ , S ₃₁ , S ₄₁ and S ₅₁ the smartphone 100 determines 1706. In particular, the smartphone 100 determines: S ₂₁ from the mutual coupling transmission power level measurement 1872 or 1972; S ₃₁ from the mutual coupling transmission power level measurement 1870 or 1970; S ₄₁ from the mutual coupling transmission power level measurement 1868 or 1968; and S ₅₁ from the mutual coupling transmission power level measurement 1866 or 1966.

The smartphone 100 determines, 1708, difference values between several pairs of S-parameters. Table 1 below contains several difference value calculations, with each difference value represented as Δ. In this embodiment, for each of the four corner antenna arrays 1804, 1808, 1810, 1806, each having an antenna element 2, 3, 4, and 5 that receives the mutual coupling transmission from the hub antenna element 1, three difference values are calculated 1708. By analyzing 1710 the three difference values for a particular corner antenna array, the smartphone 100 can determine 1714 the position of an object, e.g. the position of a user's hand, relative to that corner antenna array and the hub antenna array 1874. By analyzing 1710 the difference values Δ ₂₃ , Δ ₂₄ , and Δ ₂₅ , for example, the smartphone 100 can identify 1714 whether the antenna element 1804 is shadowed or unshaded. ARRAY1804 Δ ₂₃ = |S ₂₁ | - |S ₃₁ | Δ ₂₄ = |S ₂₁ | - |S ₄₁ | Δ ₂₅ = |S ₂₁ | - | _S51 | ARRAY1808 Δ ₃₄ = |S ₃₁ | - |S ₄₁ | Δ ₃₅ = |S ₃₁ | - | _S51 | Δ ₃₂ = |S ₃₁ | - |S ₂₁ | ARRAY1810 Δ ₄₅ = |S ₄₁ | - | _S51 | Δ ₄₂ = |S ₄₁ | - |S ₂₁ | Δ ₄₃ = |S ₄₁ | - |S ₃₁ | ARRAY1806 Δ ₅₂ = |S ₅₁ | - |S ₂₁ | Δ ₅₃ = |S ₅₁ | - |S ₃₁ | Δ ₅₄ = |S ₅₁ | - |S ₄₁ | TABLE 1

The smartphone 100 compares 1710 the difference values with one or more threshold values to identify antenna elements 1714 that are shadowed by the position of the hand. In the simplest case, which refers to the 18 is applicable, the threshold is the same for all comparisons. In particular, since the corner antenna arrays 1804, 1806, 1808, 1810 are equally or substantially equally spaced from the hub antenna array 1874, the S-parameters are the same or substantially the same when the smartphone 100 is in free space. For this reason, the difference between all pairs of S-parameters is zero or substantially zero when the smartphone 100 is in free space. Accordingly, the smartphone 100 determines that no antenna arrays are blocked after determining 1710 that none of the difference values exceed the threshold, whereupon the smartphone 100 waits a time interval t 1712 and then restarts the method at block 1702.

In the case applicable to the antenna array configuration described in 19 As shown, the threshold used for a given corner antenna array depends on the distance of that antenna array from the hub antenna array 1874. These various thresholds are used in the comparisons at 1710, which involve calculations that are more complicated than the simplest case where the corner antenna arrays are equally spaced from the hub antenna array.

Returning to the simplest case, if the smartphone 100 determines 1710 that all three difference values (magnitudes) for a particular corner antenna array exceed the threshold, the smartphone identifies 1714 that the hand is positioned somewhere between that corner antenna array and the hub antenna array, thereby shadowing the corner antenna array. In one embodiment, the analysis that smartphone 100 performs in blocks 1710 and 1714 may be performed by comparing the thresholds set forth in Table 2 below for antenna arrays 1804, 1806, 1808, and 1810. For example, as shown in Table 2, smartphone 100 determines that antenna array 1804 is shadowed when the magnitudes of difference values Δ ₂₃ , Δ ₂₄ , and Δ ₂₅ all exceed threshold S _th . Similar comparisons 1710 are performed for the remaining corner antenna arrays 1806, 1808, and 1810 to determine 1714 whether a user's hand is shadowing any of these antenna arrays. ARRAY1804 If all {Δ ₂₃ , Δ ₂₄ , Δ ₂₅ } ≥ S _th ARRAY1806 If all {Δ ₅₂ , Δ ₅₃ , Δ ₅₄ } ≥ S _th ARRAY1808 If all {Δ ₃₄ , Δ ₃₅ , Δ ₃₂ } ≥ S _th ARRAY1810 If all {Δ ₄₅ , Δ ₄₂ , Δ ₄₃ } ≥ S _th TABLE 2

Once the smartphone 100 has determined the hand position relative to the antenna arrays 1804, 1806, 1808, 1810, 1714, the smartphone 100 configures the antenna arrays based on the hand position. In one embodiment, the smartphone 100 may perform one or a combination of the following based on the hand position: operating, 1716, a shaded antenna element of a first millimeter-wave antenna array and a shaded antenna element of a second millimeter-wave antenna array for mutual coupling transmission; operating, 1716, an unshaded first subarray of the first millimeter-wave antenna array for communication transmissions; deactivating, 1716, a shaded second subarray of the second millimeter-wave antenna array. The smartphone 100 may further deactivate one or more shaded sub-6 GHz antenna elements based on the hand position, 1718, or may inform an application processor of the hand position, 1720, to open, close, or execute one or more context-dependent applications. In one example implementation, the smartphone 100 performs functions 1716, 1718, and 1720 similarly to functions 514, 516, and 518 described above.

The 20 and 21 show embodiments of the smartphone 100 with alternative antenna array configurations that can be used to transmit mutual coupling transmissions that can be used to determine MCVs to detect an object position relative to the antenna arrays, for example, by applying the methods 1600 and 1700 described above. The 20 and 21 show the Smartphone 100 with four antenna arrays (of which the one in 20 with 2006 and that in 21 designated 2106) near the four corners of the device 100, with each of the antenna arrays having a similar physical arrangement. The corner antenna arrays each have sixteen active antenna elements. In 21 The antenna elements are opposite the antennas elements in 20 but rotated 45 degrees. The corner antenna elements are positioned equidistant from a hub antenna array 1874 coupled to a transmitter for transmitting mutual coupling transmissions. The additional antenna elements in the antenna array achieve one or more advantages similar to those provided by the 10 through 15. Although not shown, the antenna array configurations shown in the 20 and 21 The corner antenna elements shown may comprise one or more parasitic antenna elements to enable low power coupling transmission.

22 shows a logic flow diagram illustrating a method 2200 for determining an object position based on multiple groups of MCVs determined at different times. Specifically, at an initial time t ₀ , the smartphone 100 determines 2204 a group of MCVs such as an S-matrix for a plurality of different pairs of antenna arrays of the smartphone 100. The smartphone 100 determines 2206 a further group of MCVs for the plurality of different pairs of antenna arrays at a subsequent time t ₁ .

The smartphone 100 determines, 2208, a set of difference values using the two sets of MCVs determined at the different times t ₀ and t ₁ . In one embodiment, each MCV in the set determined at 2206 has a corresponding MCV in the set determined at 2204. The corresponding MCVs are determined for the same pair of antenna arrays at different times, and the set of difference values includes a difference value calculated for each of the different pairs of antenna arrays using the corresponding MCVs determined at different times. The smartphone 100 determines, 2210, an object position, e.g., the position of a hand, based on the set of difference values.

The smartphone 100 may perform the method 2200 in various use cases. In a first use case, the smartphone 100 performs the method 2200 while it is in an information session, for example in a voice call or in a data retrieval. In this use case, the smartphone 100 detects 2202 that it is in a call. For example, the smartphone 100 detects 2202 that a user has initiated a voice call to an external device and then performs functions 2204, 2206, 2208, and 2210 as described to detect an initial hand position. The smartphone 100 configures 2212 its antenna arrays based on the hand position while the device is in the call. The smartphone 100 may thereby optimize a communication link over which communication transmissions are exchanged with the external device.

The smartphone 100 continues to execute blocks 2206, 2208, 2210, and 2212 as long as the smartphone 100 detects 2214 that the call is ongoing. Otherwise, the smartphone terminates 2216 the method 2200. In this manner, the smartphone 100 repetitively determines first (previous) and second (current) groups of MCVs and a corresponding set of difference values for tracking or monitoring the user's hand gesture over time to continue optimizing the communication link by reconfiguring its antenna arrays based on the hand gesture.

In a second use case, smartphone 100 opens, closes, or operates a context-dependent application, such as a gesture capture application, in response to a user hand gesture determined by method 2200. In one example, smartphone 100 executes functions 2204, 2206, 2208, and 2210 once, or executes functions 2206, 2208, and 2210 multiple times to capture an initial hand position or a series of hand gestures used to open or begin using a gesture capture application 2218. If the smartphone 100 detects 2220 that the application has been deactivated or closed at 2218, the smartphone 100 terminates 2216 the method 2200. Otherwise, the smartphone 100 continues executing the functions 2206, 2208, 2210 for tracking the user's hand movement relative to the smartphone 100, namely relative to the multiple antenna arrays, to operate the context-dependent application 2218, e.g., to continue interpreting the hand gestures based on the hand movement.

23 shows a logic flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a method 2300 that may be performed by the smartphone 100 to determine an object position based on multiple groups of MCVs determined at different times. The method 2300 is also described with reference to the 6 , 7 , 8th and 9 The smartphone 100 may perform the method 2300 once to determine the position of an object, eg the hand. Alternatively, the smartphone 100 performs at least parts of the method 2300, eg, blocks 2302, 2304, 2306, 2308, 2310, 2312 and 2314, to track the hand movement over time.

In particular, by applying the method 400, for example, the smartphone 100 sends, 2302, mutual coupling transmissions 634, 636, 638, 640 from the antenna elements 2, 4, 6 and 8 in succession, respectively. The smartphone 100 measures, 2304, the power level of the mutual coupling transmissions 634, 636, 638 and 640 received at the antenna elements 1, 3, 5 and 7, respectively, from which the smartphone 100 determines and stores, 2306, a first set of S-parameters S ₁₂ , S ₃₄ , S ₅₆ and S ₇₈ . The smartphone 100 waits, 2308, a time period t and executes blocks 2302, 2304 and 2306 to determine a second set of S-parameters S ₁₂ , S ₃₄ , S ₅₆ and S ₇₈ to determine and store.

The smartphone 100 determines, 2310, a set of difference values ΔS ₁₂ , ΔS ₃₄ , ΔS ₅₆ and ΔS ₇₈ between two sets of stored S-parameters, for example as shown in Table 3 below. BETWEEN ARRAYS 104 && 106 Δ |S ₁₂ | = | _S12 | _t2+1 - | _S12 | _t2 BETWEEN ARRAYS 104 & 108 Δ |S ₃₄ | = | _S34 | _t4+1 - | _S34 | _t4 BETWEEN ARRAYS 108 & 110 Δ |S ₅₆ | = |S ₅₆ | _t6+1 - |S ₅₆ | _t6 BETWEEN ARRAYS 106 & 110 Δ |S ₇₈ | = | _S78 | _t8+1 - | _S78 | _t8 TABLE 3

Specifically, 2310, for each mutual coupling transmission path between a pair of antenna elements, the smartphone 100 determines the difference between the MCVs determined along that path at different times.

For example, as shown in Table 3, for the mutual coupling transmission path between the antenna arrays 104 and 106, e.g., from the antenna element 2 to the antenna element 1, the smartphone 100 determines 2310 a difference value Δ|S ₁₂ | for S parameters taken at different times as Δ|S ₁₂ |=|S ₁₂ | _t2+1 |-|S ₁₂ | _t2 . In this equation, t2 indicates the first case where the antenna element 2 sends the mutual coupling transmission 634 to the antenna element 1 from which S ₁₂ is measured, and t2+1 indicates the second case where the antenna element 2 sends the mutual coupling transmission 634 to the antenna element 1 from which S ₁₂ is measured. Similarly, the smartphone 100 determines: Δ|S ₃₄ | for the antenna array pair 104 and 108 from the value S ₃₄ measured from the mutual coupling transmission 636 transmitted at times t ₄ and t4+1; Δ|S ₅₆ | for the antenna array pair 108 and 110 from the value S ₅₆ measured from the mutual coupling transmission 638 transmitted at times t ₆ and t6+1; and Δ|S ₇₈ | for the antenna array pair 106 and 110 from the value S ₇₈ measured from the mutual coupling transmission 640 transmitted at times t ₈ and t8+1.

The smartphone 100 determines 2312 whether any of the delta values (magnitudes) ΔS ₁₂ , ΔS ₃₄ , ΔS ₅₆ , and ΔS ₇₈ exceed a threshold. In one embodiment, if none of the delta values exceed the threshold, the smartphone 100 proceeds to block 2302 to determine at least one more S-matrix from which to determine the set of difference values ΔS ₁₂ , ΔS ₃₄ , ΔS ₅₆ , and ΔS ₇₈ . In one implementation, the smartphone 100 determines two new sets of S-parameters at two different times to calculate the delta values. In an alternative implementation, the smartphone 100 determines a new set of S-parameters and uses the other, recently determined set of S-parameters to calculate the delta values.

However, if the smartphone 100 determines 2312 that one or more of the delta values ΔS ₁₂ , ΔS ₃₄ , ΔS ₅₆ , and ΔS ₇₈ exceed the threshold, the smartphone 100 identifies 2314 the corresponding antenna array pair as being shadowed by an object, e.g., a hand, located at or near the pair of antenna arrays. For example, if the smartphone 100 determines 2312 that only the value ΔS ₃₄ exceeds the threshold, the smartphone 100 accordingly determines 2314 that the hand is positioned somewhere at or between the antenna arrays 104 and 108.

Once the smartphone 100 has determined the hand position relative to the antenna arrays 104, 106, 108, 110, 2314, the smartphone 100 configures the antenna arrays based on the hand position. In In one embodiment, based on the hand position, the smartphone 100 may perform one or a combination of the following: operating 2316 a shaded antenna element of a first millimeter-wave antenna array and a shaded antenna element of a second millimeter-wave antenna array for mutual coupling transmission; operating 2316 an unshaded first subarray of the first millimeter-wave antenna array for communication transmissions; disabling 2316 a shaded second subarray of the second millimeter-wave antenna array. The smartphone 100 may further disable one or more shaded sub-6GHz antenna elements based on the hand position 2318 or inform an application processor of the hand position 2320 so that it opens, closes, or executes one or more context-dependent applications. In an example implementation, smartphone 100 performs functions 2316, 2318, and 2320 similarly to functions 514, 516, and 518 above.

In the foregoing description, particular embodiments have been described. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications and changes are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The description and figures are therefore for illustration purposes only and do not represent a limitation of the invention. All modifications fall within the scope of the inventive teachings.

The advantages and solutions to problems, and any element or elements that result in such advantages and solutions or that may be more prominent, are not to be considered critical, necessary, or essential features or elements of any or all of the claims. The embodiments are defined solely by the appended claims, including any changes made during the pendency of this application and any equivalents of such claims as issued.

In addition, comparative terms in this document, such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like, are used solely to distinguish one entity from another or one operation from another, without necessarily implying that any actual relationship or order exists between such entities or operations. The terms "comprises," "comprising," "has," "having," "comprising," "includes," "containing," and variations thereof are intended to convey that a process, method, article, or device comprising, having, including, or containing recited elements may include not only those elements, but also additional elements not specifically recited or characteristic of such process, method, article, or device. An element preceded by the term "comprises...a," "has...a," "has...a," or "includes...a" does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, has, contains the element. The term "a" means one or more, unless expressly stated otherwise. The terms "substantially," "mainly," "approximately," "about," or other terms, as known to those skilled in the art, mean close to, where these terms are defined in one non-limiting embodiment as 10%, in another embodiment as 5%, in yet another embodiment as 1%, and in yet another embodiment as 0.5%. The term "coupled" as used in this specification is defined as "connected," although not necessarily directly or mechanically connected. A device or structure that is "configured" in a particular manner is at least configured in that manner, but may also be configured in another manner not specified.

It is understood that some embodiments may include one or more generic or special purpose processors (or "processing devices") such as microprocessors, digital signal processors, custom processors, and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and one-time stored program instructions (including software and hardware) controlling the processor(s) to perform, in conjunction with certain non-processor circuits, some, most, or all of the functions of the method and/or apparatus described herein. Alternatively, some or all of the functions could be implemented by a state machine in which no program instructions are stored, or in one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) in which the respective function or some combination of certain of these functions is implemented as user-defined or proprietary logic. Of course, a combination of the two approaches is also possible.

The summary of the description is intended to provide the reader with a quick overview of the nature of the invention. This summary is not intended to limit the scope of protection or the meaning of the claims. For ease of description, various features are grouped in various embodiments. This type of description should not be interpreted as an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in the respective claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, the subject matter of the invention lies in less than all of the features of a single described embodiment. The following claims are therefore part of the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as separately claimed subject matter.

Claims (20)

A method comprising: determining a first set of mutual coupling values for at least one pair of a plurality of antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110) of an electronic communication device (100), each mutual coupling value representing an efficiency of mutual coupling transmission (634, 636, 638, 640) between an antenna element (604-611) of a first antenna array (104, 106, 108, 110) of a pair of antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110) and an antenna element (604-611) of a second antenna array (104, 106, 108, 110) of the pair of antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110); determining an object position relative to the plurality of antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110) based on the first set of mutual coupling values and: operating an antenna element (604-611) of a first of the plurality of antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110) shaded based on the object position and an antenna element (604-611) of a second of the plurality of antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110) shaded based on the object position for mutual coupling transmission (634, 636, 638, 640); operating a first subarray of the first antenna array (104, 106, 108, 110) that is not shadowed based on the object position for communication transmission; and deactivating a second subarray of the second antenna array (104, 106, 108, 110) that is shadowed based on the object position. Procedure according to Claim 1 further comprising adjusting a communication transmission from one antenna array (104, 106, 108, 110) of the plurality of antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110) based on the object position. Procedure according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 , wherein the mutual coupling values of the first group of coupling values are determined based on a mutual coupling transfer (634, 636, 638, 640) between antenna elements (604-611) of a pair of antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110) comprising a millimeter wave antenna array. Method according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , further comprising deactivating at least one shadowed region of a sub-6 GHz antenna array of the multiple antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110) based on the object position. Method according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , wherein the first antenna array (104, 106, 108, 110) is a millimeter wave antenna array and wherein the second antenna array (104, 106, 108, 110) is a millimeter wave antenna array. Method according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 wherein determining the first set of mutual coupling values comprises determining a plurality of scattering parameters indicative of transmitted power for mutual coupling transmissions (634, 636, 638, 640) between antenna elements (604-611) of multiple pairs of the multiple antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110). Method according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 , further comprising determining difference values, each of which indicates a difference calculation between a different pair of mutual coupling values of the first group of mutual coupling values, the plural difference values being used to determine the object position relative to the plural antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110). Method according to one of the Claims 1 until 7 , further comprising comparing the first set of mutual coupling values with a set of reference coupling values to determine the object position relative to the multiple antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110). Procedure according to Claim 8 , wherein comparing the first group of mutual coupling values with the group of reference coupling values is used to determine a handle relative to the electronic communication device (100). Method according to one of the Claims 1 until 9 , wherein a plurality of mutual coupling values of the first group of mutual coupling values are determined based on simultaneous mutual coupling transmissions (634, 636, 638, 640) between antenna elements (604-611) of different pairs of the multiple antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110), each simultaneous mutual coupling transmission (634, 636, 638, 640) occurring at a different transmission frequency. Method according to one of the Claims 1 until 10 wherein a plurality of mutual coupling values of the first group of mutual coupling values are determined based on successive mutual coupling transmissions (634, 636, 638, 640) between antenna elements (604-611) of different pairs of the multiple antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110). Method according to one of the Claims 1 until 11 , wherein the first set of mutual coupling values includes a plurality of mutual coupling values determined for a plurality of different pairs of antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110), the method further comprising: determining a second set of mutual coupling values for the plurality of different pairs of antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110); determining a set of difference values between the first and second sets of mutual coupling values to determine an object position relative to the plurality of antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110). Procedure according to Claim 12 , wherein each mutual coupling value in the second group has a corresponding mutual coupling value in the first group determined at a different time for the same pair of antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110), the group of difference values including a difference value calculated for each of the different pairs of antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110) using the corresponding mutual coupling values determined at different times. Procedure according to Claim 12 or Claim 13 wherein determining the object position relative to the multiple antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110) comprises determining a hand movement relative to the electronic communication device (100) based on the set of difference values. Procedure according to Claim 14 , comprising opening, closing, or executing a context-dependent application in response to the hand gesture. Procedure according to Claim 14 or Claim 15 , further comprising: detecting that the electronic communication device (100) is in an information exchange session; repeatedly determining first and second sets of mutual coupling values and a corresponding set of difference values to track the hand movement during the information exchange session. An electronic communications device (100) comprising: multiple antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110), each antenna array (104, 106, 108, 110) having one or more antenna elements (604-611) for exchanging a mutual coupling transmission (634, 636, 638, 640) with another antenna array (104, 106, 108, 110); a processor coupled to the multiple antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110) for the processor to: determine a set of mutual coupling values for mutual coupling transmissions (634, 636, 638, 640) transmitted between different pairs of the multiple antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110), each mutual coupling value representing an efficiency of a mutual coupling transmission (634, 636, 638, 640) between an antenna element (604-611) of a first antenna array (104, 106, 108, 110) of a pair of antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110) and an antenna element (604-611) of a second antenna array (104, 106, 108, 110) of the pair of antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110); an object position relative to the multiple antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110) based on the group of mutual coupling values and: operates an antenna element (604-611) of a first of the plurality of antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110) shaded based on the object position and an antenna element (604-611) of a second of the plurality of antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110) shaded based on the object position for mutual coupling transmission (634, 636, 638, 640); operates an unshaded first subbarray of the first antenna array (104, 106, 108, 110) for communication transmission; and deactivating a second subarray of the second antenna array (104, 106, 108, 110) shaded based on the object position. Electronic communication device (100) according to Claim 17 wherein one or more of the multiple antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110) includes a parasitic antenna element (642, 644, 646, 648, 650, 652, 654, 656). Electronic communication device (100) according to Claim 17 or Claim 18 , wherein the multiple antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110) comprise a group of antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110) or antenna array regions dedicated to mutual coupling transmissions (634, 636, 638, 640). Electronic device (100) according to one of the Claims 17 until 19 wherein the multiple antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110) comprise a group of antenna arrays (104, 106, 108, 110) effective for mutual coupling transmission (634, 636, 638, 640) as well as communication transmissions.

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